Gas-washing plant.



H. D. WILLIAMS & W. AHLEN.

GAS WASHING PLANT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. '1, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES lo 3 INVENTORQ I r "-9 %W q 0 b N 1:3

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

H. D. WILLIAMS & W. AHLEN.

GAS WASHING PLANT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1909.

1,03%095 Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

6 SHBETfi-SHEBT 2.

' .WITNESSES mvam'ons H. D. WILLIAMS & W. AHLEN.

GAS WA SHING PLANT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1909.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. '7, 1909 6 SHBETB-SHEET 6.

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Patented Aug. 2'?

INVENTORS Moms STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

norms. D'. WILLIAMS AND wxntrm AHLEN', or reeves-1m, rnmvsrnvaum.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1912;.

Application filed April 7, 1909. Serial No. 488,480.

' ing part of this specification, 1n which-- Figure 1 is a plan view showing a gas washing plant constructed and arranged in accordance with our invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation on a larger scale, taken on the irregular line II-II of Fig. 1; showing the gas scrubber and the connections leading into and out of the gas scrubbers and showing .the means employed for controlling the flow of gases into and out of the scrubbers; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line IIIIII of Fig. 2 showing the construction of the bottom portion of the scrubbers; Fig. 4 is a. sectional end elevation on a larger scale, taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 1 showing the means employed for further cleaning the gases and for causing the gases to flow from one gas main to the other, Fi 5 is asimilar sectional end elevation tahen on the line VV of Fig. 1, showing the rotary gas washers and the gas mains having connections leading to and from the gas washers; Fig. 6 is a plan, on a larger scale, with parts broken away, showing the details of the connections between the gas-mains and the scrubbers, the fans and the rotary gas washers of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a half horizontal section, on a larger scale taken on the line VIIVII of Fig. 4; Fig. 8 is a half horizontal section taken on the line VIlL-VIII of Fig. 5; Fig. 9 is a detail section on a larger scale, showing the corrugations on the inside surfaces of the centrifugal separators of Figs. 4, 5, 7 and 8; Fig. 10 is a sectional plan showing the vertically extending partition in the combined water sealing valve and dust catcher used in connection with the gas washing plant.

Our invention relates to apparatus for handling and cleaning gases of their impurities, and more particularly relates to apparatus used in handling and cleaning blast furnace gases, to remove the finely divided solid materials usually carried in suspension in such gases from the blast furnaces in which the gases are generated.

One object of the invention is to provide a gas washing plant having improved means for conducting and washing the gases.

Another ob ect of our invention is to provide improved means for bringing the gases into contact with Water or other fluid, for separating the fluid and the scrubbed gases, and for removing entrained fluid or moisture from the gases after being subjected to the cleaning action of water or other fluid.

In the drawings, 2, 2 represents a pair of blast furnaces having downcomers 3, 3,

leading into dry dust catchers 4, 4. The

dust catchers 4 are preferably connected by means of the pipes 5, 5, with duplicate dry dust catchers 6. The dust catchers 6 are directly connected by the pipes 7 to the gas mains 9 which lead to the hot blast stoves 10 of the respective furnaces 2, branch pipes 11 being provided on the gas mains 9, which connect'with independent gas burners, (not shown) for the hot blast stoves 10. A suitable valve 8 is located on each of the pipes 7 to shut off the supply of gas to the gas burners through these pipes. The dust catchers 6 are also connected by means of branch pipes 12 with the gas main 13 for the rough gas leading to the primary washers or gas scrubbers 14. Suitable valves 15 which when open act as dust catchers are provided for shutting off the supply of gas to the main 13 from either of the branch pipes 12, when desired. Each valve 15 also serves as a dust catcher when not containing suflicient water to shut off the gas supply to the main 13 from its branch pipe 12. Connected to the rough gas main 13 by branches 16 and 17, is a series of gas scrubbers 14, a combined dust catcher and gas valve 18, similar to the valve 15, being located bet-ween the branches 16 and 17 leading" into each scrubber, and a suitable damper valve 19 is also provided on the branches 16 leading to each of the scrubbers 14 for the purpose of shutting ofl the supply of gas from its particular scrubber. The valves 15 and 18 have depending partitions 15 and 18 and have water overflow openings 15 and 18 which are located above the lower edge of the partitions 15, 18* to shut oil the flow of gas when supplied with water through the water inlet pipes 15 and 18. The bells on the bottom of the valves 15 and 18 are lowered to empty the water from the valves and also in removing accumulations of flue dust collected therein when the valves are used as dust catchers' The top1 portion of each is w. ro-

chambers, passinginto the branches 20. A

water inlet pipe" 14' having sprayin arms 14 which mayor may not be rotat as is desired is provided'in the top portion of each scrubber for supplying water to the chamber and scrub the ases, the water and gases assing through e scrubber in opposite irections. A screen or grid 14 is rovided at the upper ortion of the scru ber 14 to break up t e enterin water into drops which descend throug the scrubber in a rain. The bottom portion of the scrubber 14 is provided with a curved pipe 14 having its ends elevated above the center of. its len h so as to form a water-sealed trap or dram outlet through which the used water is drained'from the bottom of the scrubber and the flue dust or other solid materials removed from the, gases by contact with the water are washed from the scrubbers.

A deflector 14' is located at'the bottom of the scrubber 14 above the gas inlet pipe 17 to direct the ases upwardly in entering the scrubber. e branch pipe 20 on each of the scrubbers .is provided with a mushroom valve 22, b which the entrance of gas from its scru ber into the pipe 21 is regulated and controlled.

The scrubbed gases entering the gas main I d having 21 pass through the gas main and descen downwardly throu h the series of vertical legs or branches 23 into the enlarged bottom portion 24 of these legs from which the gases are lead through the branch pipes 25 into the fans 26. The gases coming from the scrubbers 14 have been partially cleaned and cooled b the drenching rain of water or other flui to which they are subjected in the scrubbers, and the gases will come from the scrubbersin a more or less saturated condition, and will also contain a considerable amount of entrained moisture due to the rapid flow of the gases. The gases,

The enlarged legs 23 on ergas main 21 are provided with water ove ow outlets 27, and are also provided with a water supply pipe 24' havmg a valve 24",. for supplying water to the en arged leg 24. The ttom portions of the legs 24 are rovided with drain pipes 28, which extend rom the legs 24 into the sealing pool located beneath the fans 26. The

end of the pipes 28 project downwardly be-,

low the level of the fluid in-the pool so as to maintain a water seal for the gases when the valves 29 on the pipes 28 are open as they are when the passage of gases throu h the apparatus is desired. The fans26 a so are provided with drain pipes 30, which groject downwardly below the level of the uid in the pool 31 .and form water seals to prevent escape of the ases through these gipes'. The fans 26 are 9. provided, when esired, with water pipes 26 through which water "is supplied when re uired' for further cooling or cleaning 0 the gases or toclean the fan in case the fan blades'should become coated with flue dust or'other' solid particles removed from the gases. The fans 26 are connected by means of the branches 32 with the top portions of the .vertical chambers 33. These chambers act as combined separators 'and water-sealing valves, water supply pipes 33- being provided to supply water to the chambers 33. The pipes 32 are provided with butterfly valves 34-by which the volume of gasesflowing through each fan is regulated.

The gases carry along some entrained moisture and some finely divided solid particles also remain in the gases even after passed through the fans. When water is added in the -fans, the entrained moisture is largely in the form of mist, and when considerable quantities of moisture in the form of mist is mixed with the gases the mixture is rendered very unsuitable for heating or for use in gas engines, as the combined heat value is then low and the gases in such condition ignite and burn with great difliculty.

In order to remove an excessive amount of moisture together with any dirt still remaining in the gases, the separator chambers 33 are constructed as shown in Fig. 4 so as to compel the gases to flow downwardly through the chambers in a helical path, and, by reason of the fans 26, travel at a high velocity, the gases entering the separators tanntially at the top and leaving the separator chambers 33 through the centrally located risers or branch pipes 35', then rising upwardly through the branches 35 and en-.

- the gases to be thrown outwardly against the outer surfaces of the separators. These outer walls or surfaces are preferably made groovedor corrugated as shown in the drawings so as to present a larger surface to the gases for securing the deposited moisture and dirt. The bottom portion of the chambers or separators 33 are provided with drain pipes 37, which terminate in a water sealing pool, andthrough which the water and dirt is automatically drained from the chambers 33. The pipes 37 are provided with valves 38, which are normally open, but which may be closed when required to shut off the escape of gas from the chambers 33 or the entrance of air into these chambers in cases where the Water is removed from the pool 31 for any purpose. The chambers 33 are also provided with water overflow out-lets 39 and with water inlets 33, by which water is added to the chambers, when desired. By closing the valves 38 and permitting the water to flow into the chambers 33, the level of the water will rise above the bottom portion of the central chambers or risers 35 so as to provide water seals and prevent flow of gases from the chambers 33 into the risers 35.

The gases on reaching'the gas main 36 are clean enough for ordinary uses, such as for burning under boilers or in the combustion chambers of the hot blast stoves, and the pipe 36 is connected by branch pipes 36 with the gas supply mains 9 for the hot blast stoves, a suitable shut-off valve 36 being provided on each branch pipe 36 to shut off the supply of gas when required.

When the gases are to be used in supplying fuel to gas engines, it will be desirable to subject them to a further cleaning action in order to remove any slight amount 'of solid material still remaining in suspension in the gases. In order to furnish a supply of gases in a condition suitable for use in gas engines a gas main 40 is providedwhich leads to the gas engines and which is connected by means of suitable branches 40 with the series of rotary gas cleaners 41, these cleaners being connected by the branch pipes 42 with the clean gas main 36.

The gas main 36-is connected-by the vertical down legs 43 with the branches 40', suitable valves 44 being provided to shut off each branch 40 from the gas main 36.-

The branches 40 lead into the rotary washers 41, which preferably are of the type of rotary gas washer shown in Patent No. 704,593, the gases passing. through these washers and rising through the bent branch pipes 42, enter tangentially into the enlarged chambers 45, and pass, in a helical path downwardly and then upwardly through the risers 47, forming an extension to the branch pipes 46, which lead into the gas main 40 leading to the gas engines pipes 46, the action in separating the gases and impurities in this chamber 45 being the same as that described for the chamber 33.

A shut-off valve 48 is provided on the branch pipes 46 ata point just above the top of the enlarged chambers 45 for the PHIPOSe of shutting off either branch pipe 46 rom its fan and from its enlarged chamber 45 and the rotary -washer. The gas mains 20, 36 and 40 are provided with suitable relief valves 49 at intervals in their length which open automatically when the pressure in the gas mains becomes excessive, in this way preventing danger of damage from high pressures or explosionsoccurring in the gas mains.

The advantages of our invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. By means of our improved gas-Washing plant, a flexible apparatus is provided by which the washing of the gases can be carried out in an economical and efficient manner and by which the degree. to which the washing operation is carried out can be varied. The apparatus is provided with means for operating the plant as a whole, or the plant can be regulated to vary the portions of the apparatus in use to suit the amount of gas being provided to be washed. Means for shutting ofi part or all of the different portions of the apparatus are provided to facilitate repairs, and for preventing waste in power and Water, or other fluid used in washing the gases.

Modifications in the construction and arrangement of the apparatus may be made without departing from our'invention We claim 1. A gas washing plant comprising a plurality of gas scrubbers, a plurality of cleaning fans, and a plurality of centrifugal gas. cleaners, a gas supply main connecting a source of gas supply with the scrubbers, a gas supply main connecting the scrubbers with the rotary fans, a third gas main connecting the fans with the centrifugal gas cleaners, said main also having connections leading to a point of use for the scrubbed and cleaned gases, a fourth gas main c011- necting thecentrifugal washers with a source of use, and means whereby the flow of gases from one main to the other is regulated and controlled.

2. A gas washing plant comprising a plurality of gas scrubbers, a plurality of cleaning fans, and a plurality of centrifugal gas cleaners, a gas supply main connecting a source of'gas supply with the scrubbers, a gas supply main connecting the scrubbers with the rotary fans, a third gas main connecting the fans with the centrifugal gas cleaners, said main also having connections leading to a point of use for the scrubbed and cleaned gases, a fourth gas main connecting the centrifugal Washers with a source of use, and means whereby the flow of gases into each centrifugal washer is regulated and shut off.

3. A gas washing plant comprising a pluralit of gas scrubbers, a plurality of cleaning ans, and a plurality of centrifugal gas cleaners, a gas supply main connecting a source of gas supply with the scrubbers, a gas supply main connectin the scrubbers .with the rotary fans, a thir gas mainconnecting the fans with the centrifugal gas cleaners, said main also having connections leading to a point of use for the scrubbed and cleaned gases, a fourth gas main connecting the centrifugal washers with a source of use, means whereby the flow of gases into each centrifugal washer is regulated and shut off, and means whereby the inlet and outlet openings to each cleaning fan is closed.

4. A as washing plant comprising a plurality 0 gas scrubbers, a plurality of cleaning fans, and a plurality, of centrifugal gas cleaners, a gas supply main connecting a source of gas supply with the scrubbers, a gas supply main connectin the scrubbers with the rotary fans, a thir gas main connecting the fans with the centrifugal gas cleaners, said main also having'connections leading to a point of use for the scrubbed and cleaned gases, 'a'fourth gas mainconnecting the centrifugal washers with a source of use, means whereby the flow of gases into each centrifugal washer is regu lated and shut off, means whereby the inlet means whereby the flow of gas supply main connecting the scrubbers I with the rotary fans, a third gas main connecting the fans with the centrifugal gas cleaners, said main also having connections leading to a point of use for the scrubbed and cleaned gases, a fourth gas main con-I necting the centrifugal washers with a source of use, and a series of valves whereby flow of gases into and out of said several mains is regulated and controlled, said valves being located and arranged to shut off the flow of gases into and out of each cleaning device while the others are being operated.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands.

HOMER D. WILLIAMS. WILLIAM AHLEN.

Witnessesz H. G. SAYLOR, -T.- E. MCDOWELL. 

